Websites for Parents

This is a wonderful online tool available to Library cardholders. Helps kids do their best in school by providing practice, lessons, and study help for various subjects. For elementary school students, there are currently modules for Math and Reading Skills Improvement.

The most extensive online research tool we have is MAGNOLIA, which is provided courtesy of the Mississippi State Legislature. Close to a hundred different databases can be searched for reliable information. Includes searches in magazines, newspapers, journals, business information, biographies, literary criticism, and much more. Think of MAGNOLIA as Google on steroids. It takes a little getting used to, but it can provide invaluable information on practically anything. If you need help using it, contact the Reference Librarian. To access it away from the Library, click on Access resources from your home computer to the right and then enter our username, which you can obtain by contacting the Library.

This reference source and other online resources are available to you through your Library. World Book Online has developed a collection of Scavenger Hunts to help children and teens learn how to use it - and they learn information while they're at it. Cool - give them a look.

State Tests

Practice tests are available free at the Library to help students prepare for state tests in grades 2-8 and in high school Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and US History from 1877. Online practice tests and more information are available through State Office of Student Assessment.

Other Useful Links

Office of Student AssessmentGo here for information about the Mississippi Curriculum and Subject Area Tests - includes practice tests. These practice tests are also available in the Library. Child Safety on the Information HighwayPublished by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Interactive Services Association, This site provides information for both parents and children and suggests guidelines for Online Safety. Parents are encouraged to review this page with their children.

Colleges, Universities and Scholarships Easy access to information on colleges and universities throughout the United States, including an online directory of college and university admissions offices.

Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents and KidsPublished by the American Library Association, this page introduces parents and children to the internet. General information is given, as well as safety tips. Parents with questions about the internet can seek answers at this site. It includes links to 50 great sites for both kids and parents. Care.comA website for finding babysitters, nannies, tutors, senor care providers, pet sitters, and more.

thecradle.comWhat it is: An all-questions-answered primer for the newly pregnant and the newly parenting, with eco-friendly undertones. Why it's worth your time: No need to troll multiple sites when you can get one-stop shopping here: parent-to-parent advice, cool baby gear, and green-living guides. Don't miss: The useful and easy-to-navigate baby-name database: more than 50,000 names tailored to the origin, the level of popularity, and the letter you desire.

pluggedinparents.comWhat it is: A comprehensive cyber-world that offers advice from a pediatric nurse-practitioner, reader-approved recipes, and even family-dog pros and cons. Why it's worth your time: You can quickly put to rest many anxiety-inducing issues, like language milestones and food allergies. Find all the answers here. Don't miss: The movie reviews. Never again will you suffer through a mind-numbing kids’ movie, thanks to the honest critiques of family-oriented films.

kidfriendlyguide.comWhat it is: A cross-country handbook of restaurants, resorts, after-school activities, and services that cater to kids, complete with reviews by parents. Why it's worth your time: Those steely glares from the no-children-welcome zone? Steer clear of them forever. Don't miss: The handy link to the extensive list of toy recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Best for Networking

totspot.comWhat it is: Part online baby book, part social site. Parents create secure MySpace-like profiles for their kids and share pictures and milestones with loved ones. Why it's worth your time: You can save the hours calling Aunt Fran about baby’s first word and e-mailing Uncle Joe about tot’s first soccer goal. They can see it all here. Don't miss: The growth-chart application, which allows you to monitor your child’s development without marking up the walls.

raisingthem.comWhat it is: A six-degrees-of-separation site where you get together with parents you know and the people they know. Why it's worth your time: Because having a playdate with a parent you don’t know can be just as awkward as a blind date. Don't miss: The online support groups for people in the same boat (parents of multiples, parents of special-needs kids, parents of more than four children, etc.).

motherhoodlater.comWhat it is: A cyber powwow for the over-35 set, with encouraging info about fertility and surrogacy, plus lots of local chapter information for playdate planning. Why it's worth your time: You risk embarrassment by admitting your teenage crush on Donny Osmond to a bunch of 20-somethings. These women can relate. Don't miss: The hilarious blogs. Waxing poetic on everything from menopause to dealing with the cringe-inducing “Are you his mom or his grandma?” inquiry.

Best Daily Destination

babble.comWhat it is: A veritable safety net of we’ve-been-there advice and keep-you-in-the-loop news to help you during that gigantic leap into the world of parenting. Why it's worth your time: You’ll get smart, timely conversations. In other words, a break from goo-goo ga-ga sounds that can be the only talk you hear all day. Don't miss: The Health and Development section, where experts weigh in on 36 controversial topics, such as co-sleeping, cord-blood banking, and spanking.

thefamilygroove.comWhat it is: An online magazine that touches on such topics as autism awareness and fitness ideas on shedding the baby weight, all in a chatty, tell-it-like-it-is forum. Why it's worth your time: With the Power to the People e-mail, a quarterly e-blast for readers, you can save 10 to 20 percent off certain purchases at mom-friendly stores. Don't miss: A burgeoning local resource guide that tips you off to the best take-the-kids restaurants and bring-the-baby resorts.

ohdeedoh.comWhat it is: As the founders so aptly put it, “a site for people who care about good design but just happen to have children.” Why it's worth your time: There’s a wealth of trust-worthy resources for home improvements, saving you the trouble of gathering word-of-mouth advice. Don't miss: The Nursery Tours: voyeuristic, behind-the-scenes glimpses of real-life children’s rooms, including those decorated on an itty-bitty budget.

Best for Kids

zookazoo.comWhat it is: A site that takes kids on educational adventures through a make-believe world. (There’s an annual fee of $58. Best suited for ages 6 to 12.) Why it's worth your time: Because Zookazoo charges a membership fee, it comes armed with every online security precaution?meaning no inappropriate ads or pop-ups. Don't miss: The Hiphopolis world, where kids can listen to musical beats and play a musical memory game.

kidstube.comWhat it is: A YouTube-type forum (think video sharing, but more heavily monitored) that elicits both parents’ approval and kids’ interest. Why it's worth your time: You can rest easy that the content is age-appropriate and spend less time policing the TV for kid-friendly viewing. Don't miss: The Random Channels, where pint-size viewers can click on the wildly popular Webkinz-related videos.

handipoints.comWhat it is: A destination that transforms ho-hum chores into an opportunity to earn points. Why it's worth your time: You get a break from the bad-cop aspect of parenting. When kids willingly help around the house, you don’t have to nag. Don't miss: The chore charts. A tally-and-reward application that encourages kids to make their beds, brush their teeth, and clean their rooms.